The Automotive Dealership Model: Evolving to Meet the Commercial EV Market

**The Shift to Electrification** The commercial vehicle market is undergoing a significant shift towards electrification, with local dealerships being called upon to do more than just sell vehicles. They must become strategic partners in their customers' sustainability journeys.

**Knowledge Gap** One of the biggest challenges dealerships face is the knowledge gap, requiring a deep understanding of total cost of ownership, charging infrastructure, and fleet management to sell and service EVs.

**TCO Savings** By helping fleet customers understand ROI opportunities in EV transition, dealers can highlight metrics like 55,774 gallons of gasoline avoided, $274,522 in total fuel costs saved, and 1,121,712 total pounds of CO₂ emissions prevented.

**Infrastructure and Support** Dealerships must consider supporting customers post-sale, offering or coordinating charging infrastructure, software updates, and battery maintenance to build long-term relationships.

**Dual Powertrain Strategies** Offering insights into both ICE and EV performance will help dealerships stand out in a crowded market, as many commercial buyers seek hybrid solutions.

**TCO Solutions** Dealerships can deliver a unified, data-driven approach to both ICE and EV operations with leading TCO solutions focused on dual platform strategies.

**Predictive Analytics** Support for predictive analytics and real-time telematics can help proactive maintenance, reduce downtime and costs, and provide deep insights into vehicle performance and operational efficiency.

**OEM-Agnostic Solutions** Dealerships can navigate a fragmented ecosystem by aligning with OEM-agnostic solutions and tech platforms that allow fleet customers to manage diverse vehicle inventories through a single interface.

**Branding Opportunity** With the EV market still in its formative stages, there is a unique opportunity for dealerships to shape their brand identities around innovation and sustainability.

**The Future of Commercial Vehicle Sales** The transition to electric vehicles is reshaping the commercial automotive landscape, offering dealerships a chance to evolve and redefine their role in the industry.